On the canal

Manchester used to be a thriving port visited by cruise and freight ships. In fact the Botanical Gardens were taken over as docks.

This is no longer the case. The dock areas are now areas of units, shops and entertainment areas. The bridges that used to rise or swing now are just thoroughfares.

You guessed it. We are on a canal cruise. Under Stephenson’s double arch bridge, steel bridges and modern concrete bridges. That Stephenson family must have been amazing, trains , bridges and lighthouses all bear their name.

The sun was shining. Birds were singing(somewhere). All was great in my little world. With all the industry, the waterway used to be polluted but fish and other marine life are gradually returning. All that sun and fresh air, it’s time for lunch in the Shambles. This is the oldest part of the city. The Tudor building was raised during nearby development so it wouldn’t be damaged.

See how I suffer for you….cruises, pub lunches strolls in cities. Talking about strolling. The buildings are beautiful here , old and new….green space is extremely rare but there is the odd space to sit in a concrete square. Look at the Town Hall. It looks like a cathedral.

Architectural details are on old and modern buildings.

Here are your quirky sights for today.

Did you realise that lettuces were safe from slugs before 1985? Why did they form an alliance? Were lettuces only attacked by snails? Who was eating the lettuces?

Home tomorrow. Are you looking forward to your own bed? Yes the flight will take forever but just think….a pillow that is not too soft or too hard but just righhhhhttttttt. See you soon.